Better Than Before: What I Learned About Making and Breaking Habits— to Sleep More, Quit Sugar, Procrastinate Less, and Generally Build a Happier Life by Gretchen Rubin. I had a bit of a hard time getting into this book at first, but once I got going, it gave me a lot to think about. Rubin talks about why it's so hard for us to form habits (even habits that we enjoy!), and frames this topic in several different ways, such as four basic habits personalities (Upholders, Questioners, Obligers, and Rebels) and other useful frameworks and spectrums. If you feel frustrated that you can't seem to form habits, I highly recommend this book as a tool for learning to figure out where your roadblocks are and how to get around them.
How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence by Michael Pollan. LSD isn't my usual reading topic, but Pollan's work on sustainable agriculture has deeply influenced me, so I was willing to take this rollicking ride into the world of psychedelics— and let me tell you, this is fascinating stuff. He chronicles the rise and fall of psychedelics in the western world, showing how the "drug culture" eclipsed a huge amount of scientific work that showed promise for using psychedelics therapeutically, and how scientists and doctors are trying to recover and explore this again. He also devotes several chapters to describing psychedelic trips that he took under the care of an underground network of therapists willing to break the law to help their patients. This book is historically interesting, mindset-challenging, and fun to read.
Trail of Lightning by Rebecca Roanhorse. Update: After reading reviews from Diné (Navajo) critics, I can no longer recommend this book. Roanhorse is a member of a different nation than the one she wrote about, and appropriated sacred religious figures in a way that the Diné reviewers found harmful. You can read more here.
The Minimalist Home: A Room-by-Room Guide to a Decluttered, Refocused Life by Joshua Becker. I admire Becker's work on minimalism (even though, as not an upper-middle-class person, I often feel left out of his target audience), and this book is another example of his encouraging, down-to-earth style. He encourages people to make their homes places that they actually want to live, encouraging rest, good work, and family connection. It inspired me to start decluttering immediately (even living out of a suitcase, clutter can creep up on you!). Highly recommended for anyone needing motivation to make space in their life and gain freedom from stuff.
What have you been reading lately? What would you recommend?
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